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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Entertained}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Entertaining}.] [F. entretenir; entre between
(L. inter) tenir to hold, L. tenere. See {Tenable}.]
1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service;
to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.
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You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred. --Shak.
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2. To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to
receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as
a guest.
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Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby
some have entertained unawares. --Heb. xiii.
2.
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3. To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that
which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to
entertain friends with conversation, etc.
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The weary time she can not entertain. --Shak.
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4. To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive
and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use
of; as, to entertain a proposal.
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I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as
the philosophy of Locke. --De Quincey.
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A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was
entertained by some very sensible people.
--Hawthorne.
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5. To meet or encounter, as an enemy. [Obs.] --Shak.
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6. To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep
in the mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain
sentiments.
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7. To lead on; to bring along; to introduce. [Obs.]
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To baptize all nations, and entertain them into the
services institutions of the holy Jesus. --Jer.
Taylor.

Syn: To amuse; divert; maintain. See {Amuse}.
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Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, v. i.
To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he
entertains generously.
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Entertain \En`ter*tain"\, n. [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]
Entertainment. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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